Industrial fuse and switch



July 24, 1956 c. M. GILDAY, SR

INDUSTRIAL. FUSE AND SWITCH Filed Feb. 7, 1955 I N V EN TOR. 0/570 M. 6/1 0/1 1 5/? ATTO/P/VEX United States Patent INDUSTRIAL FUSE AND SWITCH Cheston M. Gilday, Sr., Springfield, Pa.

Application February 7, 1955, Serial No. 486,415

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-114) The present invention relates to fuses and is concerned primarily with a multiple combination switch and fuse that is intended for industrial use.

At the present time considerable difliculty is experienced, particularly in the smaller industrial plants, in replacing a fuse after it has burnt out. It may be stated, as a general rule, that a person replacing the burnt fuse must first break the circuit, remove the old fuse, and replace it with a new one. The supply of new fuses is ordinarily separate and is removed from the fuse box and considerable difficulty is experienced in obtaining the replacement.

With the foregoing conditions in mind, the present invention has in view, as an important object, the provision of a combination switch and fuse which consists essentially of a main fuse box together with a cover that is hingedly connected thereto. Mounted in this fuse box proper are the two female elements of a knife switch, while the knife blade is carried by the cover. When the box is fully closed, the blade is received in the female elements to close the switch and when the cover is opened, the switch is opened.

Another object is to provide in a combination switch and fuse of the type noted, a pair of adjustable terminals which determine the position of the fuse gap, together with a magazine for receiving a supply of fuses. This supply preferably takes the form of a long tape that is perforated at intervals to provide, in effect, a plurality of fuses each of which is intended to bridge the gap across the terminals. When the fuse burns out, it will do so at the point of narrowest cross section which is at the aperture whereupon a new fuse is simply pulled from the magazine as it will be connected to one end of the blown fuse.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an industrial switch and fuse of the character indicated in which the box contains two complete fuse and switch units. This end is achieved by arranging one magazine, its associated pair of fuse gap terminals, and the female elements of the switch along one side of the box and the corresponding elements on the other side.

Under certain conditions, it may be desirable to have the box closed sufiiciently for protective purposes, and yet leave the switches open. Thus, another object is to provide, in a device of the character indicated, a cover that is mounted on the box by a toggle and which cover is adapted to assume either a partially closed or fully closed position. In its partially closed position the initerior of the box is covered and protected, but the switches are open. In its fully closed position the switches are closed.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention, such as arise in connection with carrying out the above-noted ideas in a practical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises an industrial switch and fuse which consists essentially of a fuse box having 2,756,303 Patented July 24, 1956 a hinged cover with the box containing two complete switch and fuse units. Each of these consists of a fuse magazine, and pair of terminals defining a fuse gap, and the two female elements of a knife switch. The blades of the switches are carried by the cover and the latter is adapted to assume either a partially closed position leaving the switches open, or a fully closed position in which the blades are recived in the female elements to close the switches.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following descriprtion and the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an industrial fuse and switch designed in accordance with the precepts :of this invention with the cover opened and certain parts broken away, and

Figure 2 is a side view taken as a vertical longitudinal section through the box and cover as open.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the combination switch and fuse of this invention is shown as comprising a box that is referred to in its entirety by the reference character B, and a cover designated generally C. The box B includes a bottom 10, an inner end wall 11, an outer end wall 12, and side walls 13 and 14.

The cover C comprises a top wall 1'5, an inner end wall 16, an outer end wall 17, and side walls 18 and 19. These side walls 18 and 19 are tapered, as shown in Figure 2, with the narrower ends located .at the inner end wall 16. The purpose of this is to facilitate the cover assuming either of two closed positions as will be later described.

The main body of the top wall 15 is cut away to provide an opening at 20 for viewing purposes, and this opening is closed by a glass panel 21. Thus with the cover in closed position, the condition of the fuses on the interior of the box may be ascertained by looking through the glass panel 21. This top wall 15 is also formed with a slot 22 adjacent to the side wall 18 for a purpose to be later specified.

Extending upwardly from the inner face of the top wall 15 (speaking with reference to the cover in open position) and secured thereto is a bracket 23. This bracket 23 carries a cross piece 24 which in turn carries a pair of knife blades 25 adjacent to the opposite ends thereof. These knife blades 25 are insulated from the cross piece 24.

A toggle, such as illustrated at 26, has its opposite ends connected to the inner walls 11 and 16 of the box and cover respectively, and serves to hingedly mount the cover on the box.

Mounted on the inner face of the box side wall 13 and extending thereabove is a tongue 27 which is adapted to pass through the slot 22, and carried by this tongue 27 is a ball detent 28. This ball detent is adapted to engage the under face of the cover top wall 15 to support the cover in a partially closed position. but is further adapted to ride past the top wall so as to permit the cover to be forced into a fully closed position.

Secured to the inner face of the bottom wall 10 of the box B, in any preferred manner, is a brass strap or panel 29, and mounted on this panel 29 are two complete switch and fuse units. Inasmuch as these units are duplicates, the detailed construction of only one will be herein described.

At the end of the panel 29, more closely adjacent to the outer wall 12, the panel carries the two female elemen-ts 30 and 31 of a knife switch. These elements are spaced apart, as illustrated, and are adapted to be bridged by one of the blades 25 when the cover is in a fully closed position. These elements of a knife switch are of a well known construction.

The elements 31 of the two switches are protected by a glass panel 32 which has a flange at 33 that is secured to the outer wall 12, and another flange at 34 which-is connected to the panel '29. The paneli32 is formed with a pair-of slotsi35 :overrthe switchelements 31. for accommodating 'the bladesZS.

;Mounted on-thetopiace of thelpanel 29. .are twopairs of.L shaped-brackets with-the brackets 36 and 37 making up one ,pair, and the'brackets 38.and 39-making up the=.other pair. Mounted betweenthe brackets 36 and 37 is .a U shaped t-erminal.carrier=40. Disposed between the arms of this carrier 40 is an expansion coil spring .41. Thearrns of ,the .carrier-40have :outw-ardly extending,projections .42 which -may be received .in any -,of a series of openings formed-inthe-brackets 36 and 37. Thus, vthe position .of "theicarrier-AG together with the terminal-43 carried thereby-may be adjusted. Thisterminal 43 consists-of-a pressure-finger'such as is well known in the electrical art and serves to clamp a fuse, as. will be :later described.

Another terminaL-carrier -4'4-is mou-n-ted'between the brackets 3S-and. 3'9iand is-provided with a spring and projection arrangement comparable to that described above in connection with the carrier 40. A terminal-45 is, in turn, carried by the carrier 44.

'A fuse from the magazine, to be later described, extends across the-terminals'43 and-.45, and the relative position of the latter maybe adjusted to varytheposition of the fuse-gap.

A fuse'magazineis referred to in its-entirety by the reference character M. This magazine M is mounted on the panel 29 and has a shape similar to that of the conventional cigarette lighter. It comprises .a main body or casing 46 on whichis hingedly mounted .a top 47 and may be opened to afford access to the interior thereof. The fuse magazine proper consists of ameta-llic tape48 of an appropriate metal that is,per-forated at intervals, as shown -at*49, to mark off or define'aplurality of fuses. The main body of this top may be coiledito form a-roll, but .is preferably'folded-in the mannerillustrated and iszreceived in the casing 46. This-taperpassesthrough a slot 50 formedrinthe end wall of themagazine adjacent to the terminal 45 with which it aligns.

Alamp 51, which isincluded in a circuitindependent of those con-trolled by these switches and-fuses in the box, is mounted at. an appropriatepl'ace on the'exter-ior of the box,-such as the end wall 12, to provide illumination for-the box. This lamp 51 has an independent .switchand separate fuse.

Operation While the manner of using the industrial fnseand switch, above described,.and its mode ofsoperation is believed to be obvious from the illustration of the drawing and description ofparts given, it may bebriefly. outlined as follows:

A tape 48, either coiledor folded, isplaced in each of the casings .46 and the top 47 of the magazine is closed. Each of these tapes includes an appropriate number of fuses, sayfor instance. 100 in each: tape. The. end of each tape is then passed through the slot '50 of vthe respective. magazine, and beneath thepressure'fingers or terminals 45 and 43.with the aperture 49 positioned substantially midway f the terminals.

The cover C is now. fully closed whereupon the knife blades .25 bridge theswitch elements 30 and 31 to cornpletethe twocircuits. Under ordinary conditions, the switch which controls the lamp 51 is left open.

When a fuse blows or burns out, it will :be across the point ofv narrowest cross section as determined by the opening 49. When .this happens the userproceedsto the box, turns on the lamp 51, if light is required, and opens the cover C to obtain access to the interior of the box. The tape 48 is now pulled out of the magazine M a sufficient distance to again bridge the gap where the fuse has blown. This operation can be conducted in complete safety, because the opening of the box will have automatically broken the ,circuits by removing the blades 25 from the switch elements 30 and 31. The cover is now ,again closed to complete these circuits.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereincefore set-forth, it istobe clearly understood thatthe inventionzismot'to belimitedto theexact constructions, mechanisms and devices illustrated and dedescribed because various modificationsof these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. ha combination-switch and fuse, a box, acover mounted on saidboxby atoggle and adapted to assume either a partially closed or a fully closed :posi-tioma ball ,detent on said boxfor .yieldably holding said cover in its partially closed position, a fuse magazine -mounted insaid box and including a pluralityof fuses connected together in atape, a pair of fuse terminals spaced apart to define ea gap that is bridge byone of said fuses, and a-knife switch-in the circuit of said terminals, said switch including apair of .spaced female elementsin said box and a bladetcarried by said cover and adapted to-be received in said female elements to bridge the space there- .between-when said cover is fully closed.

2.11142. combination fuse and switch, a box, a cover hingedlyirnounted on said box, a fuse magazine mounted insaidbox and including a plurality of fuses connected together in a tape, apair of fuse terminals spaced apart to define a gapthat is bridged by one of said fuses, a carrier 'for each of said terminals adjustably mounted in .saidiboxwhereby-t-he position of said gap may be adiusted, and a-knife' switch in they circuit of saidterminals, said switch including a pair of spaced female elements in-said boxand a-blade carried by said cover and adapted to be received said female elements to bridge the space t-herebetween when said cover is closed.

3. In a combination fuse and switch, 'a rectangular shaped.box, -a cover correspondingin shapeto said box =andflhingedly mounted thereon, a; pair of fuse and switch units in saidrbox-arranged in spacedrelation on the opposite sides rthereof each of said units comprising a fuse magazinemountedrin said box and including a plurality of, fuses'connected. together in a tape, a pair. of fuse sterminalsi'spacedcapartzto ,define. a gap that is bridged by one of said fuses, and a knife switch in the circuit of said -terminals,-.said switch including a pair of spaced femaleelemen-ts -in-said boxand a blade carried by said cover and-adapted to be received in said female elements to bridge the space therebetween when said cover is closed, a -glass bafiie in protectiveposition over a female element ofeach switch and formed with a pair of slotsto accommodate movement of the blades. onsaid cover.

References. Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,829,214 Driest Oct. .27, 1931 12,006,611 Westberg July 2, 1935 2,059,987 Frank et a1 Nov. 3, 1936 2,124,275 Rowe, July 19, 'I 938 2,128,648 .Jbhansson Aug. 30, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 206,015 Switzerland Oct. 2,1939 8733899 France Apr.'1-3, I942 

